Questions on Draw Inspections

[bskinner]

Hey guys!!! I have been draw inspector for many years now and have had loads of experience. I am not a Home Inspector, I only do draw inspections because that is what I love to do. I have come in here to help you guys and gals if you ever need help in any form with draw inspections a.k.a progress inspection, or completion evaluations, etc.

Also I know that some of you, from what I have read, do not think they are worth while. But I have made a good living at this sort of business. If you can get your foot in the door with some local banks you can do really good.

[Emmanuel J. Scanlan]

Hi Bobby,

Welcome to NACHI and thank you for your offer. I may be taking you up on that one.

I had a client here that did draws for a living. I inspected his $650,000 home and he drives a BMW to his draw inspections. I was really surprised but yes it can be a good living.

[David P. Valley]

Originally Posted by bskinner

Hey guys!!! I have been draw inspector for many years now and have had loads of experience. I am not a Home Inspector, I only do draw inspections because that is what I love to do. I have come in here to help you guys and gals if you ever need help in any form with draw inspections a.k.a progress inspection, or completion evaluations, etc.

Also I know that some of you, from what I have read, do not think they are worth while. But I have made a good living at this sort of business. If you can get your foot in the door with some local banks you can do really good.

Bob,

I'd love it if you could start out by listing the draw companies that you've worked for and which companies you had problems with.

[bskinner]

As for nationally known draw inspection companies like DDN and so forth I have a limited experience. I put most (99%) of my business in local Banks. For instance, I do them for Regions (who is number one in construction loans in my area), BB&T, Capital Mark B&T, and FSG. Just in last 4 months have I been doing applications for DDN, Trinity, Granite, etc. I have only done a few for DDN in four months and none for other national companies. That tells me that my coverage area which is Chattanooga TN that a lot banks are not using them. I can see banks in larger markets like Atlanta using them so far they are not as popular as of yet for medium markets like Chattanooga. Plus if you get business from lenders in your area you are not as likely to have to travel as far and you cut out the middle man like DDN.

[Bob Elliott]

This topic has lit a fire of interest.
Lets run with it.

[Richard A. Moran, 2nd]

This was also under misc. Some more info.
http://www.nachi.org/forum/f13/questions-draw-inspections-24469/

Dick

[dbronsted]

Bobby who do you talk to for these inspections?
Dana

Originally Posted by bskinner

As for nationally known draw inspection companies like DDN and so forth I have a limited experience. I put most (99%) of my business in local Banks. For instance, I do them for Regions (who is number one in construction loans in my area), BB&T, Capital Mark B&T, and FSG. Just in last 4 months have I been doing applications for DDN, Trinity, Granite, etc. I have only done a few for DDN in four months and none for other national companies. That tells me that my coverage area which is Chattanooga TN that a lot banks are not using them. I can see banks in larger markets like Atlanta using them so far they are not as popular as of yet for medium markets like Chattanooga. Plus if you get business from lenders in your area you are not as likely to have to travel as far and you cut out the middle man like DDN.

[bskinner]

The best way that I have found on who you need to talk at banks is to go through the doors and ask someone, "Who handles construction loans for builders to build houses." They usually have a title thats like Residential Construction Lending. The head person in that department is the one who handles who gets hired for draw inspections.

[dbronsted]

Thank you..thats simple..
Dana

Originally Posted by bskinner

The best way that I have found on who you need to talk at banks is to go through the doors and ask someone, "Who handles construction loans for builders to build houses." They usually have a title thats like Residential Construction Lending. The head person in that department is the one who handles who gets hired for draw inspections.

[Patrick Coulter]

If there is no middle-man, what is the going rate for doing a draw inspection in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area? I have heard that some guys that do them on behalf of another inspection company only get $50.00; so someone is making more than that. I just want to get an idea of what to charge if dealing directly with the lender so I don't price myself out or rip myself off from the start. Any suggestions?